Coach insight – Matt Yates

Competing at world level has undoubtedly helped me as a coach. The network I have created from my time in the sport has definitely benefited the athletes I coach at all levels. However, I don’t actually give any of my athletes the kind of training that I did myself. Looking back, it was all wrong and I made a lot of mistakes.

I started coaching 19 months ago. It was purely by chance that I got involved after 15 years away from the sport. I got talking to a lad from Essex called Dale Clutterbuck in the local bar and agreed to help him out. I still coach him now, along with the rest of my current squad, including Elliot Giles, Revee Walcott-Nolan and Richard Charles. Within the group, I definitely have a couple of athletes set to come through in a big way this winter.

The secret to coaching success is cold honesty and being upfront with your athletes all the time. I try to take an individual approach and get to understand every athlete I coach.

The biggest mistake an athlete can make is not listening. Learning from mistakes is also crucial in order to progress to greater things. I always try to view failure as a stepping stone to greatness. Matthew Syed’s book, Black Box Thinking, touches on those views – it’s an interesting read.

‘Train and learn to run at speed’ – is becoming my motto to coaching. It’s a key piece of advice from Alberto Salazar that has stuck with me.

All of my athletes run cross-country. They take part in the Metropolitan League and I really value the benefits it brings. Too many middle-distance athletes miss out on the cross-country season in my eyes.

I like to keep to the old school method of army sergeant major-style shouting. But I …

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